Boko pledges support for BDF
PINI BOTHOKO | Thursday June 12, 2025 11:21
Addressing senior officers at the just ended 20th BDF senior officers strategic conference that was held at the Sir Seretse Khama Barracks (SSKB) auditorium , Boko said government remains open to engaging with members of the armed forces and 'addressing their concerns with sincerity and urgency.' The conference was held under the theme, ‘Embracing a new dawn in defence capabilities inspired by human security, accountability and meritocracy.' Boko emphasised the important role the military plays, noting that in return for government's support, Batswana expect the BDF to be the guardians of the nation’s core values and uphold the integrity of the military profession. “We will continue to listen to your concerns with an open mind and address them the best way we can.
The government is already reviewing key issues affecting the military. These include pensions, accommodation, healthcare services, equipment maintenance, refurbishment, and replacement,” he said. In a significant policy shift, President Boko revealed that he has directed that a feasibility study on the establishment of a local defence industry be fast-tracked highlighting that the input of BDF personnel would be crucial in the process. He added that legal reforms to support the defence industry will be expedited, and called on the BDF leadership to treat the matter with urgency. Boko said the establishment of a robust defence industry will not only strengthen their country’s self-reliance but will also create jobs, foster technological advancement, and stimulate local economies. “As an inclusive government, we want to ensure that you have opportunities during and after your service. Whatever we decide regarding retirement age, it must come with options for continued contribution in this new defence industry. Who is better placed to participate in this industry than you. I would urge you to attend to this matter with dispatch because it presents special opportunity for you,” he said.
He further urged BDF members to take advantage of existing government programmes aimed at improving their welfare, skills development, and post-service opportunities. These include the Bonno Housing Programme and other initiatives designed to support life beyond active service. He said the housing scheme ensures home ownership, that no person in this country be without a decent house. “I have seen how many of our people retire into poverty and there is a structural explanation for this. I have said it before that we have operated a low wage economy across for a very long time, such that a person who earns P20 000 belongs in the top 1% of high income earners in this country. This should be a source of grave concern for all of us especially for government. When you complain with good reason you should understand that we are dealing with a structural problem that needs to be addressed structurally,” he said. He stated that the housing scheme is an attempt to place immovable property into the hands of citizens and the ambition is to build 100, 000 houses in the next three years. He called on members of the BDF to take advantage of this initiative for a decent shelter. “It is being rolled out in every constituency with a minimum of 1, 000 houses and you should also take advantage of this programme.
The idea is to ensure citizens have decent accommodation but we will also engage in other programmers that will deliberately transfer wealth and place it in the hands of the most ordinary of our citizens, it is an obligation and government has to do it for the people,” he said. Boko further revealed that they are in the process of finalising the development of a comprehensive National Security Strategy (NSS) for Botswana in order to enhance the country’s security eco-system. “This strategy will provide us with a framework through which the country responds to both external and internal threats, craft effective and forward-looking security policies, and allocate resources in a manner that strengthens our national resilience, as well as clarify roles among our security agencies. So I call upon you as the custodians of peace and stability, to provide your insight and wisdom so as to shape the strategy that will reflect our national values, respond to emerging security challenges, and it upholds our sovereignty and territorial integrity, in this ever-evolving security environment,” Boko said. The President further revealed to be aware that one of the most significant impediments in developing an effective NSS is lack of consensus on national security priorities. He said that has led to some NSS being reactive as opposed to being proactive. “In some countries, maybe in ours as well, defence budgets have been drastically reduced to address other competing priorities and national requirements and interests only for those countries to suffer in times of military need. We must appreciate that if we go too far down that route we stand to suffer immensely in times of need, so we must position ourselves to be ever ready, properly resourced. We must look at what is happening in the region and understand that we must prepare ourselves well in advance not to wait for tragedy to befall us and prepare under pressure of calamity,” he said.
Additionally, Boko said Botswana’s participation in peacekeeping missions stands as a testament to the country’s unwavering commitment to regional stability, unity, and shared progress. He stated that through these missions, the BDF did not only help restore peace in conflict-affected areas, 'but we also strengthened bonds with our neighbours, fostering mutual trust and regional integration.' “Our involvement promotes collective security, it enhances our diplomatic influence, and reinforces Botswana’s role as a responsible and proactive member of the international community. Our active participation at the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) is a testament to this and we must applaud you,” he said. Meanwhile, Boko encouraged members of the BDF to be innovative and embrace technology to develop homegrown solutions to some of the challenges they face. He said they should always be in a technology improvement mode which will yield better defence systems. “Your innovative ideas could easily give birth to a defence industry that will not only shorten your supply chain, but can also make you self-sufficient in certain supplies, as well as contribute to economic development,” Boko said.
For his part, the BDF Commander, Placid Segokgo said it was important for the President to underline that they met at a time of rising international conflicts, mounting geopolitical pressures, increasingly complex and volatile security developments that challenge the military to remain professional and apolitical. “The emergence and resurgence of non-state actors as competitors, increased terrorism activities globally, and financial and economic instability are some of the transnational challenges that demonstrate the complexity of the modern-day security environment. These multiple crises or conflicts underpin the need for the BDF to have a broader approach to national security,” he said. Segokgo said there is a need to address capital defence capabilities, which have straining from obsolescence and inadequacies in addressing modern-day threats and opportunities.
However, Segokgo assured the President that members of the BDF have remained true to being a strong state institution committed to its legal mandate, repulsive to the immense external pressure to act in a manner inconsistent with their role. “In a mature and established democratic state like ours, the military is an underwriter of our democratic dispensation and responsible for protecting the country’s territory, people’s fundamental rights, freedoms and values, as well as ensuring we have a safe and secure environment to pursue our national interests,” Segokogo said. He further reminded members of the BDF that the theme challenged them individually and collectively as the organisation’s strategic leadership to innovate, adapt and transform the BDF. “That will help us attain and present a credible deterrence to our nation’s adversaries while simultaneously meeting the broad mission requirements in our operations.
This day offers us a crucial time to reflect and ensure we remain focused to the strategic vision, while being creative as stewards of the military profession,” he said. The BDF strategic conference is an annual event that brings together senior military leaders to assess operational strategies, review performance, and set priorities for the future.